Bernie sanders, socialist welfare recipient from vermont never had a job in his life always lived off your production and labor collected through taxes, likes to use sweden as a prime example of how well socialism works. Aug 20, 2011 the big tax on incomes is imposed by the municipalities in sweden and by the communes in denmark, those latter being groupings of as few as 10,000 citizens. Sweden has come a long way from the socialist era that bernie and his kind seem to imagine still endures. Bernie sanders points to denmark as a model for his vision of america.
Paul krugman and the socialist hellhole that is sweden forbes. Feudal socialism, clerical socialism, pettybourgeois socialism, german or true socialism. Why denmark isnt the utopian fantasy bernie sanders. And sweden has some of the most profree trade policies in the world. Feb 17, 2016 bernie sanders points to denmark as a model for his vision of america. Nazism in sweden has been more or less fragmented and unable to form a mass movement since its beginning in the early 1920s. In denmark in the 1920s and in sweden in the 1930s, basic taxfunded social welfare programs, similar to those in many other developed countries, began to be implemented. The myth of swedens socialist utopia liberty and common sense. Sorry, bernie scandinavia is no socialist paradise after all. What do sweden, socialism and bernie sanders have in common. Mar 27, 2019 sweden has a 100 percent universal voucher system for education. I would also add that capitalist societies still exist and lead in research and development. If thats what what everyone is saying, let me tell you something.
Today, after the nordic countries have introduced universal health care, the difference has shrunk to 2. Sweden has a 100 percent universal voucher system for education. However, between 1936 and 2008, the growth rate was only th out of 28 industrialised nations. Oct 24, 2019 even countries that are considered by some people to be socialist states, like norway, sweden and denmark, have successful capitalist sectors and follow policies that are largely aligned with. Wikitravelstefan ertmann in the previous post are european states more socialist than the us. Upon hearing this, i resolved to begin writing about sweden and socialism to develop a class analysis of sanderss program. Between 1870 and 1950, sweden had the highest per capita income growth in the world and became one of the richest countries, behind only switzerland, the u. Nov 03, 2015 denmark, and to a lesser extent the other nordic countries, are surfacing in the democratic debates as examples of relatively equal societies that provide generous benefits for their citizens.
As i cleared customs at arlanda airport in stockholm, sweden on my way to postgraduate studies at the. Cnn politics sent chris moody to copenhagen to find out if its worth the hype. Dueling memes debate denmarks social infrastructure. Denmark is often praised as the great example of socialism however they admit that they have massive debt, fiscal problems worse that those of the us by far and that those who have the best minds and abilities are leaving and going to other countries that have lower taxes. The myth of scandinavian socialism foundation for economic. Why democratic socialists cant legitimately claim sweden. Swedish economist schools sanders on the ravages of socialism.
Conservative critics perception of socialism is misunderstoodjust look at sweden. Publications debunking the scandinavian socialism myth. Sweden is ranked as one of the easiest countries in the world to do business. In sweden, denmark, finland, and norway, the top decile of earners own between 65 and 69 percent of the countrys total wealth, an astonishing figure. The scandinavian countries of denmark, norway, and sweden image credit. Several hundred parties, groups, and associations existed from the movements founding through the present.
Apr 06, 2016 sanders replied that he was for democratic socialism, or what theyve had in countries like denmark, norway, sweden, finland for many years. In norway, sweden, and denmarkgenerally considered socialistthe government provides healthcare, education, and pensions. It is the answer to any objection that new welfare benefits cant be adopted here. If socialism is horrible, why are sweden, norway, finland. Difference between scandinavian socialism and socialism in. The nordic model also called nordic capitalism or nordic social democracy refers to the economic and social policies common to the nordic countries. Will sweden and other socialist countries like finland and. The myth of swedens socialist utopia liberty and common. A solidaristic wage policy centralized bargaining to achieve equal pay for equal work nationwide forces unproductive enterprises to shape up or go under. Mar 19, 2001 venture capital is pouring into sweden, and labor productivity is rocketing. These employees work in various fields including education, healthcare and for the government itself.
Denmark, for instance, has the most equal distribution of income among all oecd countries and one of the lowest infant mortality rates. Bernie sanders american dream is in denmark cnnpolitics. The socialism of the scandinavian countries a divided world. Well, it could be that for countries like denmark and sweden, socialism has become a bit of a pr problem, as its come back to bite them in the ass.
For example, democratic socialists are generally opponents of global capitalism and free trade, but the scandinavian. There are questions about whether swedens educational system works as well as it should, but it is one of the most private and not socialist education systems in the world. How capitalism saved sweden from the evils of socialism. Swedish economist schools sanders on the ravages of. Mar 05, 2018 the country is in fact very pro capitalism, but does redistribution through taxes. One key reason for public spending is the large number of public employees. Poking around slightlyimaginarysweden sis, even the skeptical socialist is impressed. Sweden is not alone in rejecting socialism and embracing capitalism. Dec 06, 2019 based on ocasiocortezs comments and similar remarks from other democratic socialists, many have assumed denmark, norway, and sweden are thriving marxist socialist paradises and that scandinavians are much better off than americans because of their countries socialist policies. Why democratic socialists cant claim sweden, denmark as.
While sweden, denmark, and finland have received attention for a political crisis, formal claim on the north pole, and complicated relationship with nato respectively, norway has grabbed more headlines at least in. Conservative, or bourgeois socialism, which has a kind of echo in the socalled socialism of the socialdemocratic and labour parties. The myth that sweden is a utopian paradise where all the social problems have been solved and that you can have high growth with high taxes has been touted by bernie sanders as. Democratic socialists claim those countries implemented socialism incorrectly or that other factors are to blame. May 26, 2016 sweden is ranked as one of the easiest countries in the world to do business. America doesnt get what socialist scandinavia and sweden. Everyone refers to these countries as an example of socialism and how it works. A brutal meme about socialism in denmark does not paint a completely accurate portrait of life in that country for the middle class. It is the land of social democracy and of all good things. Denmarks prime minister says bernie sanders is wrong to call. Based on ocasiocortezs comments and similar remarks from other democratic socialists, many have assumed denmark, norway, and sweden are thriving marxist socialist paradises and that scandinavians are much better off than americans because of their countries socialist policies. While sweden, denmark, and finland have received attention for a political crisis, formal claim on the north pole, and complicated relationship with nato respectively, norway has grabbed more headlines at least in the more internationallyoriented papers. A few years ago in norway, 37% of the stocks traded on the oslo stock market were owned by the state.
Sanders replied that he was for democratic socialism, or what theyve had in countries like denmark, norway, sweden, finland for many years. Problems remain due to high taxes and government spending. Politicians like sanders will often refer to nordic countries like denmark, sweden, and finland in defending their proposals. And denmark has, as rasmussen goes on to say a bit later in the talk, exactly the kind of singlepayer health system that sanders favors. Denmark tells bernie sanders its had enough of his. Furthermore, sweden began to fall behind as the state grew rapidly from the 1960s. They prefer to cite norway, sweden, and denmark as examples of socialist. Oct 20, 2015 a brutal meme about socialism in denmark does not paint a completely accurate portrait of life in that country for the middle class. A clear and present danger the heritage foundation. Pdf disability, socialism and autonomy in the 1970s. If they have any knowledge of socialism at all, and most do not, they will point towards sweden. Adams has provided the most popular answer, but because he does not allow comments, there is no way for an actual scandinavian to correct him on the erroneous parts of his answer.
Between 1975 and the mid1990s, sweden dropped from being the 4th richest. There are, however, several key problems with that. But the nordics scrapped the americanstyle welfare system decades ago. Politics sweden taxation welfare state socialism health care. Jun 10, 2016 american conservatives like to gloat that, rather than being the model for a socialist utopia, sweden is the example that proves socialism fails, and, when it does, as when sweden s economy slowed. Aug 10, 2018 democratic socialists claim those countries implemented socialism incorrectly or that other factors are to blame. The scandinavians embrace a brand of freemarket capitalism that exists in conjunction with a large welfare state, known as the nordic model, which includes many policies that democratic socialists would likely abhor. However, sometimes the line between democratic socialism and social democracy is blurry. Venture capital is pouring into sweden, and labor productivity is rocketing. Mar 01, 2018 between 1870 and 1950, sweden had the highest per capita income growth in the world and became one of the richest countries, behind only switzerland, the u. They prefer to cite norway, sweden, and denmark as examples of socialist success.
Apr 28, 2010 denmark is often praised as the great example of socialism however they admit that they have massive debt, fiscal problems worse that those of the us by far and that those who have the best minds and abilities are leaving and going to other countries that have lower taxes. Even countries that are considered by some people to be socialist states, like norway, sweden and denmark, have successful capitalist sectors. American conservatives like to gloat that, rather than being the model for a socialist utopia, sweden is the example that proves socialism fails, and, when it. Socialist bernie sanders believes nations like denmark, like sweden, and norway employ the welfarestate economic model that the u. Socialism is successful in sweden, norway and denmark. Jan 11, 2016 well, it could be that for countries like denmark and sweden, socialism has become a bit of a pr problem, as its come back to bite them in the ass. From 1990 to 1999 productivity climbed 47% in sweden, against 39% in the u. May 23, 2017 the nordic model also called nordic capitalism or nordic social democracy refers to the economic and social policies common to the nordic countries denmark, finland, norway, iceland and sweden. These scandinavian social democracies offer things like free college tuition, universal health care, and other programs that help everyone, including the working class. Scandinavia isnt a socialist paradise the federalist. In the 1960s, sweden started to redistribute wealth, which brought wealth creation to a halt. Rather, they prefer the nordic model of democratic socialism as practiced in sweden, norway, denmark and finland.
Aug 10, 2016 in denmark in the 1920s and in sweden in the 1930s, basic taxfunded social welfare programs, similar to those in many other developed countries, began to be implemented. However, private ownership of property creates a degree of income inequality. As an expat american whos lived in denmark since 1991, ive been longing to write about danish democratic socalism, but my colleague, contenius beat me to it with his entry last friday daily. Denmark, and to a lesser extent the other nordic countries, are surfacing in the democratic debates as examples of relatively equal societies that. Socialists love to cite sweden and denmark as socialist models, but these scandinavian countries favor the free market over socialism in running their economies and are content with private rather. Adams has provided the most popular answer, but because he does not allow comments, there is no way for an actual scandinavian to correct him on the erroneous parts of. Between 1870 and 1936, sweden enjoyed the highest growth rate in the industrialised world. From capitalist to socialist to capitalist sweden and the.
1141 1476 259 22 489 1435 530 1087 889 1091 617 1538 801 1203 263 1626 703 1475 657 287 1145 609 963 1252 55 343 1077 318 998